Pokémon First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 Revealed

Series Three of The First Partner Illustration Collection is the final instalment in this illustrated ensemble of starter Pokémon products. It comes after series one, which brought us the First Partner Pokémon of Kanto, Sinnoh, and Alola, and series two, which gave us starters from Johto, Unova, and Galar. Series three closes things off by bringing us full art cards representing the first forms of the Hoenn, Kalos, and Paldea First Partner Pokémon. Let’s break down what’s on offer inside this journey launching collection of Pokémon cards.

What’s Inside the Series Three First Partner Illustration Collection

Inside every Series Three First Partner Illustration Collection you’ll find…

• Two Pokémon booster packs from recent sets.
• A special “First Partner Booster” containing three cards (from a possible pool of nine) each of which is an illustration rare first partner Pokémon.
• A sticker sheet depicting all nine of the Pokémon that can potentially be opened in the First Partner booster.

The First Partner Booster Is the major offering here, since these cards are promotional and they can’t be opened in other packs. Let’s take a look at the three sets of First Partner Pokémon that you might find inside…

Hoenn First Partners

First up are the three Hoenn starter Pokémon: Mudkip, Treecko, and Torchic. This trio originated from the Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, which were released internationally way back in 2003. As is the pattern for every piece of artwork in this series, there are a variety of easter eggs and references that can be seen in the background of each of the pictures.

All eight of the region’s gym badges are scattered through each of the three illustrations, alongside a variety of key items from the region. A Pokédex can be found in Treecko’s art, someone is building a secret base with a Swablu plushie in Torchic’s, and Mudkip’s trainer also has a bright orange PokéNav. All three of the Pokémon have also been placed in front of thematically appropriate locations. Mount Chimney and the Lavaridge town hot springs loom behind the fire type Torchic. You can see the treehouse-based Fortree city behind the grass type Treecko, along with the cozy rural hamlet of Littleroot town. While the Watertype Mudkip is diving forward into the oceans surrounding Sootopolis city.

Kalos First Partners

Meanwhile, over in Kalos, the Pokémon world’s equivalent of France, we can see the three first partner Pokémon from 2013’ s X and Y games. Say hello to Fennekin, Chespin, and Froakie.

The Prism Tower, Kalos’s version of the Eiffel Tower, is displayed on the left hand side of Fennekin’s artwork, alongside a mega bracelet (slightly further down). This serves to demonstrate how Kalos was the region where Mega Evolution debuted. There are several fashion accessories, overcoats, handbags, and other pieces of clothing spread through the artwork of all three of these Pokémon, because the ability to customise your ingame trainer started with these games. The region’s Pokedex is also displayed in the bottom right corner of Fennekin’s artwork, next to a collection of Poké Puffs, small macaroon like snacks that are a Kalosian delicacy.

Paldea First Partners

Finally, let’s look at the artwork of the Paldean partner Pokémon. Fuecoco, Sprigatito, and Quaxly are from 2022’s Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. These are the most recent set of Pokémon games (at least until generation 10 releases next year), and they’re drawn from Paldea, a Pokémon region inspired by Spain.

The first thing that you’ll probably notice here is that each of these Pokémon actually shows up twice per card. Once in the foreground in their regular form, and again in the background in a crystalline terrestrial form, as a shout out to how these games saw the debut of terastrialisation, a special mechanic that allows Pokémon to change type in battle. This is represented by Tera Pokémon in the TCG. You can also see the two legendaries, Korraidon and Mirraidon, cycling through the artwork. There’s also a sandwich on display in Sprigatito’s art, referencing the sandwich making mechanics in Scarlet and Violet, allowing players to gain a variety of beneficial buffs by stopping for a lunch break.

First Partner Series 3 Q&A

When does Pokémon First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 release?

The third and final series of the Pokémon First Partner Illustration Collection is expected to release in August of 2026.

How many cards are in a Pokémon first partner pack?

Each First Partner pack contains three cards, drawn from a pool of nine potential promo cards. You’ll also get two additional boosters from other recent TCG sets. These will contain 10 cards each.

Are these cards legal for play?

Yes, you can use the promos inside your Pokémon First Partner pack in both the Pokémon TCG’s Standard and Extended formats.

Which of these cards is the strongest?

In terms of gameplay viability, many basic Pokémon aren’t designed to stay in combat, but rather to evolve into a more powerful later form. Having said that, Fuecoco has the highest hp here, and the most damaging attack, however, it requires three energy cards to use and it discards one of them once the attack has been launched. Mudkip has 20 less hp, but its Mud Slap attack can deal 40 damage for two energy cards, which is strong compared to other Pokémon from this set.

Bringing the Journey to a Close

So that’s a rundown of what to expect from series three of the Pokémon TCG’s First Partner Illustration Collection. Across all three editions, the first form of every single First Partner Pokémon now have an illustration rare card in this easter egg loaded style. It’s currently not known whether the generation ten starters from the upcoming Pokémon Winds and Waves will get cards printed in this treatment or not.

For more exclusive Pokémon cards with exciting alternative art, have a browse through our selection of Pokémon TCG promos, and see what you can find.

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